Electric belt.



Patented May 29, |900.

P WENIGMAN ELECTRIC BELT.

m [y wf m l nl'. D Y ma Patented May 29, |900. P. WENIGMAN.

ELECTRIC BELT.

licaton filed Mar. 14

eeeeeeeeeeeeee 2.

lmmll w??? www:

PAUL VENIGMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGOR TO MICHAEL A. MCLAUGIILIN,OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 650,499, dated 1 VIay29, 1900.

Application filed March 14, 1900. Serial No. 8,599. (No model.) O

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, PAUL WENIGMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Belts, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in electric belts, and has for itsobject the provision of apparatus wherein the electric current may bemore readily applied to the human anatomy as a curative agent.

More specifically my improvements relate to means for establishingbetter electrical connection between the different portions of the belt,whereby its beneficial effect is increased and the waste of current isdiminished, employing in the belt a form of dry-battery cell of suchconstruction as to adapt it particularly to the use named and providingperma- .nent connections and a regulating device in association with thebattery whereby the current may be controlled and effectively directedto the part or parts of the body to be treated.

IIitherto electric belts have commonly been constructed of a pluralityof small cells adapted to be excited by a liquid electrolyte, the saidcells being connected together by means of link couplings. These beltsrequired frequent renewal of the said electrolyte, while the manner ofconnecting the cells was wasteful of the current in that the resistanceof the belt was considerable and short circuits between the batterycellswere frequently established. In the belt of my invention thesedifficulties are obviated.

The belt herein set forth embodying my invention may be brieflydescribed as consisting of a flexible band or strip of material adaptedto encircle the body, upon one side of whichare disposed the electrodes,while upon the other side `are mounted a plural.

ity of at dry-battery cells permanently connected together with aregulating device in series with the electrodes and the battery.Connectionl is established between the said electrodes and thedry-battery cells by means of insulating-cords connecting with terminalsprovided with a clamping device adapted to insure electrical continuitybetween the cords and the electrodes.

My improvements will be more readily un derstood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, illustrating a belt constructed in accordancewith my invention, wherein Figure 1 is a view of -the exterior or outerside of the belt. Fig. 2 shows in perspective one of the electrodesprovided with a clamp for the conductingcord. Fig. 3 is an exterior viewot' one of the battery-cells. Fig. et is a plan view of the twolongitudinally-separable parts of said cell. Fig. 5 is a transversesectional view of the cell, the parts of the cell being shown slightlyseparated therein; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the belt,regulating device, and battery-cells.

Similar parts in each of the several figures are designated by the sameletters of reference.

In Figgl I have illustrated a belt equipped with six battery-cells,which number, however, may be varied as desired, ranging ordinarily fromsix to twelve. These cells are connected in series, the same beingmounted upon a strip a of canvas or leather, which is provided with apermanent inner cover Z), preferably of chamois, and a removable apronc, adapted normally to cover the battery-cells. Upon the right isdisposed a rheostatd, l1aving a movable arm cl', adapted to travel overfixed metallic contacts cl2, mounted upon an insulating-baseandelectrically connected by means of a strip of graphite or other suitableresistance material. A silk-covered insulating-cord e is provided with aflat terminal hook c', adapted to be securedbeneath a Washer upon therheostat and establish electrical connection with the battery-cells.Connected with the conducting-cord are hooks e2 e2, which arerespectively adapted to be snapped into holes upon the spring-straps ff', soldered or otherwise secured to themetallic electrodes f f. Thesestraps are formed of spring-like material, having an opening cut in oneend, through which the other end is adapted to be slipped, in whichposition'the terminal hook 'e2 of the conducting-cord is snapped throughthe opening in the inserted end. The tension of the spring metaltherefore clamps the terminal hook in excellent IOO electrical contactwith the strap and electrode. Upon theleft of the row of batterycells isprovided a small flat binding-post g, which is adapted to receive oneterminal of a second conducting-cord g', whiclnextends to the negativeelectrode h of the battery. It will be understood that by means of theseconducting-cords any suitable means for ape pl ying the electricalcurrent to different parts of the body may be placed in electricalconnection with the battery-cells. I have chosen, however, to illustratemy invention in connection with the metallic disks f h, which are mostcommonly employed: These, if desired, maybe covered with chamois orother material suitable for applying current to the body. The cases t'of the battery-cells 7c are molded from hard rubber, vulcanite, or othersuitable material, so that the two halves fit accurately together.

f At or near the bottom of the upper half t" of the casing is securedthe zinc element 7c', while the carbon element 7a2 is similarly disposedin the lower halt` t of the casing. Connection is established with saidelements by means of screws, which respectively extend through lugststiin the top and bottom walls -ot' the casing. A V-shaped peripheralrib i2 is provided upon the lower halt' of the casing, which accuratelylits into a corresponding groove provided in the upper casing, servingto seal the contents of the cell, paraflin or a suitable cement beingplaced in said groove to malte the joint air-tight.

After the interior space in the cell has been lled with any suitabledry-battery paste,such as is well known in the art, the screws i3 areinserted, which serve to clamp the top and bottom portions of the casingif together. The completed battery-cells are then riveted upon thesupporting fabric of the belt, asV shown in Fig. 6. Connection betweenthe separate cells is established by means of short lengths of iiexibleconducting-cord Z, which are placed beneath the rivets. upon theopposite side of the belt,.uniting the positive and negative terminalsor lugs of each of the battery-cells, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.G. These connecting rivets and cords are disposed within the beltbetween the supporting` fabric and the chamois covering I), avoiding anyopportunity for short-circuiting the belt upon its inner side.

`The strap m, of elastic webbing, is provided with terminal hooks m',adapted to engage Yrings 'm2, mounted at or near the ends of the beltproper. The strap serves to hold the belt in place about the wearer.

From the manner of connecting the battery-cells and the associated partsupon the belt it will be seen that the continuity of all the electricalconnections is insured, while the resistance ol the belt is verylow. Bymeans of the rheostat CZ the strength of the current may be regulatedand controlled. by the wearer, as desired.

-The employment of dry-.battery cells obalso readily renewed, since bysimply removing the top screws i4 in the lugs 7e3 it will be seen thatthe upper halt` 'of each of the battery-casings may be removed to permitof renewing the dry-battery paste. This, it will be seen, can beaccomplished without disturbing the permanent connections o f the cellsupon the belt and involves merely the removal of a single screw for eachot' the cells thus renewed.

. The form of battery-cell is peculiarly adapted for the use inquestion, since it is strong, compact, and light, thus placing noinconvenience upon the wearer of the belt.

A relatively-large surface of the carbon and zine elements is exposed inthe cells to the action of the dry-battery compound, and the voltage ofthe cells remains quite uniform.

Having now described an electric belt constructed in accordancewith myinvention, I claim as new, together with all such modifications as maybe made by mere skill or a're by law implied, the following:

l. In an electric belt, the combination with a plurality ofbattery-cells, ot' a plurality of iiexible conductors disposed withinthe interior of the belt, rivets passing through the body of the beltand securely uniting the terminals of the battery-cells with theflexible conductors, whereby the said cells are permanently connectedtogether and the resistance of the belt is minimized, and electrodesconnected with the battery, adapted to be applied to the parts of thebody to be treated, substantially as described.

2. In an electric belt, the combination withY a plurality ofbattery-cells, of a plurality of iiexible conducting-cords Z disposedwithin the'interior of the belt, a plurality of rivets permanentlyuniting the terminals of the battery-cells and the conducting-cords eachto each with the body of the belt, whereby the electrical resistance ofthe belt is minimized and short-circuiting is avoided,and electrodesconnected with the battery, adapted to be applied to the parts ot' thebody to be treated, substantially as described.

3. In an electric belt, the combination with a plurality ofbattery-cells, of a plurality of flexible conducting-cords Z disposedwithin the interior of the belt, a plurality of rivets IOO IIO

permanently uniting the terminals ofthe bati 4. The combination with aterminal part or electrode f, of a strap f of spring-like materialconnected with the said electrode and having an opening in one endthrough which the other end of said strap is adapted to be slipped undertension, and a receptacle or aperture provided in the latter end,adapted to receive an electrical conductor, wherein said conductor isclamped by the tension of said strap, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an electrode for electric belts, of a combinedsu p porting-strap and clamping part f formed of spring-like material,the ends thereof being overlapped and provided with a receptacle for anelectrieal conductor, wherein said conductor is clamped by the tensionof the strap, substantially as described.

6. The herein-described dry-battery cell adapted for use in electricbelts, comprising a flattened casing formed of twolongitudinally-separable parts or receptacles of insulating material,respectively provided with the two elements of the cell, terminalsrespectively connected with said elements, extending from the oppositeside walls of the casing, and means for sealing and securing togetherthe parts of said cell, substantially as described.

7. In a battery-cell of the class described, the combination with aVeasing of insulating material formed of two longitudinally-sepa rableparts, a carbon and a zinc element respectively disposed in said parts,terminals respectively connected with said elements and leading from theopposite side walls of the casing, and means for clamping the separableparts of said cell together, substantially as described.

8. In a miniature battery-cell, the combination with twolongitudinally-separable casings or receptacles adapted to fit tightlytogether, said separable receptacles respectively carrying twoelectrodes or elements in juxtaposition to each other, terminalsconnecting with said elements, and means for securing the receptaclesclosely together, substantially as described.

9. In a battery-cell of the class described,

the combination with two receptacles of insulating material ttingclosely together, of two elements respectively disposed in juxtaposition to each other upon the opposite interior walls of saidreceptacles, terminals upon the opposite sides of the cell, respectivelyconnected with the elements upon the interior, and means for clampingthe separable parts of the cell together, substantially as described.

10. The combination, in a miniature battery-cell for use with electricbelts, with two flattened receptacles of insulating material, havingoverlapping engaging faces, of a carbon and a zinc element respectivelydisposed upon the side walls of said receptacles, terminals disposedupon the exterior of said receptacles and connected through their sidewallswith the elements, and screws passing through the said receptaclesadapted to secure them together, substantially as described.

1l. In a miniature dry-battery cell adapted for use upon electric belts,the combination with separable paired casings c" z' of insulatingmaterial, having engaging faces provided with recessed or overlappingedges, of a zinc and a carbon element respectively disposed oppositeeach other within the said casings upon their flattened walls, terminals7c3 h4 upon the exteriors of said walls and respectively connected withthe said electrodes, and screws is. adapted to secure the separablecasings tightly together, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a terminal part or electrode f, of a strap f ofresilient material connected with the said electrode, the ends of saidstrap being overlapped under the tension of said material, whereby areceptacle for an electric conductor is formed, wherein said conductoris adapted to be securely clamped, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of March,A. D. 1900.

PAUL WENIGMAN.

Witnesses:

W. W. LEAcH, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

